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University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present University Relations
3-2-1998
UM receptionist bound for Miss USA pageant
University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations
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Recommended Citation University of Montana--Missoula. Office of University Relations, "UM receptionist bound for Miss USA pageant" (1998). University of Montana News Releases, 1928, 1956-present. 15204. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/newsreleases/15204
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UNIVERSITY RELATIONS • MISSOULA, MT 59812 • 406-243-2522 • FAX: 406-243-4520
This release is available electronically on INN (News Net).
March 2, 1998
Contact: Reno Wittman, Miss Montana USA 1998, (406) 243-2455.
UM RECEPTIONIST BOUND FOR MISS USA PAGEANT
MISSOULA—
Reno Wittman, an unassuming receptionist with The University of Montana-Missoula School of Business Administration, has been leading a double life.
Not only is the 25-year-old a receptionist for the business school dean, she is also Miss
Montana USA 1998. She has already departed for Shreveport, La., to represent Montana in the Miss
USA Pageant. The pageant will air Tuesday, March 10, at 7 p.m. on CBS.
“Not many people on campus know about this,” Wittman said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I had a cousin growing up who became Miss Montana, so it was always a childhood dream of mine to do this. My goal is to get into the top 10, since Montana has never had anyone in the top 10."
A 1996 UM graduate with a degree in psychology, Wittman has worked for the business school since last September. She won the Miss Montana USA Pageant in Bozeman Oct. 18.
When she was named Miss Montana USA, Wittman took home an evening gown and accessories, money for lingerie, a free trip to Shreveport, books — mainly about self improvement — and a variety of other gifts, including a Miss Montana USA ring.
“I told (Dean) Larry Gianchetta that the good news was I was Miss Montana," she said. “The
-more- MissUSA.rl—2
bad new was that I needed three weeks off for the pageant."
As Miss Montana USA, Wittman is required to appear at several-events around the state and
in the Miss USA Pageant. She said one of her favorite activities has been helping the Missoula
Police Department with the Police Reaching Out to Students program, which takes officers into area
schools to educate students about the dangers of drugs and violence.
Wittman is no stranger to beauty pageants. In 1990, the Billings native represented Montana
at the Miss Teen USA Pageant in Atlanta.
After graduating from Billings West High School in 1991, Wittman had an active life as a
UM undergraduate. She joined the Delta Gamma sorority, sang in the University choir and was a
UM cheerleader from 1994 to 1996. She is currently a cheerleading adviser at Hellgate High School.
“Up until this point, cheering for the Grizzlies at the national (football) championship was the greatest thing I’ve done," Wittman said, “but I think the pageant will be even more exciting.”
She isn’t nervous about appearing in the nationally televised pageant. She said cheering in front of thousands of people at UM sporting events has prepared her for the spotlight.
Wittman leaves for her three-week stint at the Miss USA Pageant Feb. 22. Much of her time there will be spent rehearsing for the interview, evening gown and swimsuit competitions, but events like hay rides and pizza parties are also planned. Wittman said she is excited about the possibility of meeting celebrities like Donald Trump, who owns the pageant along with CBS.
Wittman said her UM co-workers have been extremely supportive, and some intend to gather at the Gallagher Building on campus to watch the pageant and cheer her on. m
CBS Dailies, weeklies MissUSA.rl